Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (NJC)
Mangaluru, Oct 2: Demanding stronger public healthcare infrastructure in Dakshina Kannada, the Sarakari Aspathre Ulisi Horata Samithi (Save Government Hospital Struggle Committee), Surathkal, organised a foot march on Gandhi Jayanti on Friday, October 2.
The march began from Kattipalla Samsuddin Circle and concluded at the Surathkal Primary Health Centre, where a public meeting was held.
The protesters demanded the establishment of a 40-bed community hospital in Surathkal, along with regional units of Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, and NIMHANS in Mangaluru.
Addressing the gathering, B K Imthiaz, former district president of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), said access to quality healthcare should not depend on a person’s financial status. He highlighted the difficulties faced by families dealing with cancer, heart disease and other serious illnesses and called for stronger government hospitals.
Imthiaz said people should not be forced to seek crowd-funding or political assistance to meet medical expenses. He also stressed the need for concrete implementation of proposed government healthcare projects rather than assurances alone.
Muneer Katipalla, district convenor of the struggle, said the demand for strengthening healthcare infrastructure in the region has continued for years. He called for the upgradation of Wenlock Hospital as a regional hospital, the establishment of a government medical college in Dakshina Kannada, and regional branches of Kidwai, Jayadeva and NIMHANS in Mangaluru.
He also demanded taluk hospitals in all taluks and community health centres at the hobli level, stressing the importance of accessible public healthcare.
Muneer said the demand for a community hospital in Surathkal has continued for more than two decades and urged the government to take concrete steps towards fulfilling it.
The programme was attended by representatives and activists from various organisations, including Adivasi Hakkuugala Samanvaya Samiti (Surathkal Division), Dalit Sangharsha Samithi (DSS), DYFI, Toll Gate Horata Samithi, Market Horata Samithi and Badaga Ekkar (Bajpe) grama panchayat.
Among those present were Siraj, member of the Badaga Ekkar (Bajpe) gram panchayat, Sadashiva Padubidri, Makssood, Musthafa Baikampady, Hussainar, Samad Katipalla, Salim Shadow, Dr Krishnappa Konchady, Abusali, T N Ramesh, Charan Shetty, Sunanda Konchady, Naveen Konchady, Rafiq Ankekala, Yogish Jappinamogaru and Thayyib Baikampady, along with other activists and supporters.
The organisers said the struggle for strengthening government healthcare infrastructure in Dakshina Kannada would continue.